“We have been informing the health authority of this impending recruitment crisis for many years.

“Unfortunately little, if anything, has been done and the system is now at breaking point.

“I would be grateful if the health board could use all resources at their disposal to do all that they can so that we can retain a decent service to our patients which is safe, and provide it to the highest possible standards.”

Year-round pressures on healthcare system

He said the continued lack of investment in primary care is having a knock-on effect on secondary care.

“When there are 10 ambulances sat outside the A&E department of the local district general hospital on a daily basis, it does not take a genius to work out that the system is broken.

“Subsequently, response times for ambulances are not met, A&E departments are full to bursting, every hospital bed is taken as there is chronic under capacity.

“GPs are sent daily e-mails requesting that we shouldn’t admit patients unnecessarily.

“Due to unrelenting pressure on beds, patients are often discharged too soon, and without adequate social care provision.

“This is a year-round problem, no longer to be blamed on winter pressures.”

GP recruitment a national issue

A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “Senior medical staff and managers recently met with Dr Williams to discuss his concerns.

“The difficulties in recruiting GPs is a national issue; however, there are particular problems in specific areas of North Wales.

“We fully recognise these issues and work is ongoing to identify and agree measures to alleviate the immediate problems and to develop a strong recruitment base.

“We are currently exploring a number of short and long term ideas to address the local shortage of GPs including taking advantage of the opportunities arising from cluster working and working together with other practices.”